Pacific graduate ready for PGA Tour debut

Byron Meth was cleared by his doctors to resume playing golf about six weeks ago.

Today, he’ll make his professional debut on the PGA Tour.

On Monday, the former Pacific standout qualified for the $5.8 million Sony Open and will start on the 10th tee at 3:10 p.m. PST today at Waialae County Club in Honolulu, Hawaii. Meth is paired with Sung Kang from South Korea and American Michael Kim. Former Stockton resident Ricky Barnes also is in the field.

Meth has returned to form after undergoing three procedures last year to repair a vascular malformation, or fistula, in his lower back. Meth, who graduated from Pacific in May with a degree in business finance and a minor in economics, spent part of last fall helping the Pacific golf team as he recovered from his second surgery. Meth was walking gingerly and was noticeably uncomfortable as he helped lend the Tigers a hand during the Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational in late October at Stockton Golf and Country Club.

“It was nice to be around the game and be around some of my good friends,” Meth said of his short coaching stint with the Tigers. “The fundamentals of the game -- the alignment, posture and tempo – all of those core values, it was nice to help those guys with that and to be their second set of eyes out there.”

On Nov. 20, Meth underwent his third procedure. Just a few weeks later, he was on the road to recovery.

“Health-wise, I’m 100 percent,” said Meth, who’ll turn 23 years old on Tuesday. “I got the go-ahead from the doctors on Dec. 4, and that’s when I got back in the gym and got back on the golf course.”

On Monday, Meth shot a 4-under par 68 which put him a five-man playoff at the Sony Open qualifier. He birdied the first playoff hole to gain entry into this season’s first full-field event on the PGA Tour.

The San Diego native compiled a heady resume as an amateur. Meth was the 2014 West Coast Conference tournament medalist and the 2014 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion, which automatically granted him entry in the 2015 U.S. Amateur and the Masters. Meth was prepared to turn pro last year, but his back set him back for several months.

“It’s something I had to do,” Meth said. “I was in good spirits upon recovery, so it put me in a good position physically and mentally to come out and compete.”

Stockton's Steve Klein introduced Meth to veteran caddie Cayce Kerr, who will work with Meth this week. Kerr, whose bosses have included Fred Couples and Vijay Singh, has worked 29 Masters and has guided five of his players to the green jacket.

“He’s one of the best caddies in the world," Meth said. "I’m very fortunate to have him on my team.”

Meth said he’s anxious to put his game to the test on the PGA Tour.

“I’d like to be able to get out there and find my comfort zone again and experience competitive golf,” Meth said. “I know I can play the game. It’s a matter of feeling comfortable but feeling the nerves and getting that competitive edge back again.”

-- Contact sports editor Bob Highfill at (209) 546-8282 or bhighfill@recordnet.com. Follow him at recordnet.com/sportsblog and on Twitter @bobhighfill